Chapter 90

Stacey

My heart pounded in my chest as I pushed myself through the dense bushes, my breath coming in sharp gasps. My skin was slick with sweat, and every muscle in my body burned with exhaustion. Finally, I collapsed behind a sturdy oak tree, my stomach churning from the intense exertion. Through the woods, I could hear Taylor struggling to catch his breath, his lungs heaving as he too, doubled over in fatigue. The whole world seemed to spin around me as I fought for air, my senses overwhelmed by the smell of earth and sweat and the sound of our ragged breathing.

The sun beat down on my skin as I scanned the trees, searching for any signs of danger or intrusion. The leaves rustled gently in the breeze, casting shifting dapples of light on the forest floor. In the distance, I could see the other pack members going about their duties, their forms blurred by the heat haze. The rough bark of the tree dug into my back as I leaned against it, and I could feel the sweat dripping down my foreh